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We rode this trail from the Water St. parking lot in Augusta. This is virtually the beginning of the trail except for a very short segment that goes down to a park at the river level. The trail takes a break in Hallowell's Granite City Park. There is some historical information here and Adirondack chairs set up to view the river. At the Park, the trail goes onto the street for less than a mile (stay on the main street). There are some really cool old buildings in the town. The trail then goes up to the right. This is a relatively flat and easy ride. It is all paved with few bumps.
This is an old dirt road that’s been gated off at the end of the tar portion. Nice, flat, and wide with occasional views of Lake Auburn. It’s a favorite with local runners. We have encountered a few dogs off leash despite local ordinances so beware of that. A nice early morning walk or run.
The family all loved this rail trail. The unpaved section was a bit hilly and rocky (about 1 mile). The paved section ran parallel to the train tracks. Really cool bridge over the water. Also stopped by the Orchard Ridge farm along the way. Visited the animals and had tasty donuts, fudge and cheese.
We rode from Wolfeboro 7 miles out and back with our three kids. I was very nervous after reading the reviews of people getting hurt. We almost didn’t do this trail because of the reviews. The part we rode was great! Yes, there are parts where you have to switch between the trail and the track but if you are careful and SLOW down this is not an issue. The trail is mostly flat with great scenery . I say a it’s a great trail!
I’ve ridden and walked all over this trail over the years as a local yocal. The portion from downtown Wolfeboro to Fernald station is basically for walkers/joggers only. There are a ton out all times of the year and rightfully so, it’s mint. I got an e-bike recently, and have found the portion from Fernald Station in Wolfeboro out to Wakefield is the best for bikes. It’s crushed stone the entire way and limited foot traffic. Picnic tables along the way too with spots to chill.
The trail is a continues incline but not steep. There are quite a few railroad ties after the first mile but the there is room to go around in most places. Effortless return due to the down slope.
Horrible experience....I have a very narrow-tired bike and didn't know anything about the trail (should have read other reviews!!) and fell 3 times and I am an experienced rider....All gravel, dirt, and on and off the RR tracks many times...very treacherous!! And every time you meet someone you have to stop or they do, to let you by. Some beautiful scenery by the lake but you can't take your eyes off the terrain as it is very uneven. OK for walkers.
We had a great time on this flat trail, which does have some old railroad tires and nails popping up along the way. Using “Map My Walk” it was 7.12 miles from the parking lot to the falls and back. The falls are very refreshing, with a few safe still pools to cool off in! Highly recommend this trail! You can also visit other side trails off this one, including Black Pond which we do next time!
I will preface this by saying I'm basing my opinion on being a runner. It is probably a great trail for dirt bike riders, ATV riders, snowmobilers, etc. For runners the surface is soft in places, pitted in places, has lots of rocks in places, and overall is just not a great surface for runners.
Bikers beware. As others have noted, this is a narrow trail with rails still in place. It is a beautiful path and perfect for walkers and runners. If you choose to ride, Wear a helmet and heed the signs to walk across the on\off ramps where the path veers from the rails, which is often. As others have noted, bike tires can become snagged and cause you to be thrown from your bike. This happened to my partner requiring fire dept/emergency rescue from the trail. Shame on us for not wearing helmets. Concussion and fractured arm later, all is well. Emergency responders and local hospital were all amazing - especially given the current concerns in healthcare. Important to note, no one was surprised at what had happened, it’s not uncommon. Again, beautiful trail, but I think this is a fair warning if you do choose to ride this trail.
We started on the eastern end. About a mile in there is some construction with heavy machinery and a very rough trail. Other than that, the trail is in good condition. For about a mile, the views are stupendous but most of the trail is in a forest canopy. There is a beautiful pond with lots of marshland.
The BIG issue is the bugs. The horseflies are terrible. In the hour and a half we were out we each got bit a dozen times and swatted away hundreds. I'm not sure if this is all the time or seasonal, or just this section of the trail, but it'll keep us from this segment.
Next time we'll go to the mid-point and try from there.
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